Croesholiad Gwirfoddol a Datganiad David Davies (Dai'r Cantwr), 17 Ionawr 1844 [tudalen 1 o 2]

Disgrifiad

Datganiad David Davies, neu 'Dai'r Cantwr', carcharor yng Ngharchar Caerfyrddin, yn ymwneud â'r tân ar fferm Gellygylwnog (a oedd yn eiddo i William Chambers), ym mhlwyf Llanelli, 9 Medi 1843.

Adysgrif:

'County of Carmarthen to wit: The Voluntary Examination and statement of David Davies otherwise Dai'r Cantwr now a Prisoner confined in the Gaol of the County of Carmarthen under sentence made in the presence and hearing of Mr. Chambers Junior Esq, J. P. & John M. Tierney, Inspector of the Metropolitan Police, the seventeenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four relative to the fire at the farm of Gellygylwnog in the parish of Llanelly in the county of Carmarthen on the ninth day of September 1843 as follows: There were present at the farm of Gellygylwnog on the night of the fire the following persons - namely Evan Kilferissa, Will James, Evan Gellyhir who stopped near the Quarry and I called him on and he went on, Charles of Crossant watched with Evan on the road, Davy servant at Pantygwenyth, John shoemaker near the Drovers' Arms near the old tram road is a master singer at Horeb - he is the man who set fire to the hay at Gellygylwnog, he had the matches at Llanelly. Davy the sevant at Pantygwenith also had matches and set fire to the hay. Tom Morris said Davy make haste or else the fire will be out as they had set fire to the wrong side of the rick. Robert Rolf the keeper was at the Farmers' Arms, on that night, with the lot and was alone leaving the house. He had a Poney and was going towards Pontyberem and he said to Evan of Gellyhir that he expected his place would be on fire before he got home. I, and John Roberts (or the shoemaker) and Davy of Pantygwennith were the three who went to the Rick and set fire to it. Will James, Tom Morris and Evan Hughes stood against the hurdle and after Tom Morris saw me catching a tuft of the hay they 3 went off to the field and I ran after them and when I got to the Gate I told them, in Welsh, not to shoot as it was Sunday morning. When I got to the field two guns snapped and as I turned to the gap Tom Morris's gun went off and Tom Morris told me that he had shot the horse in the flank. I then ran, after the shot went off, to the oat field and there I saw Davy of Pantygwenith and John the shoemaker trying to set fire to one of the field mows and I said 'for God's sake do not burn the corn as it is food ... '